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Published: Saturday January 8, 2011 MYT 3:52:00 PM
Man loses RM700,000 on Internet gambling
By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH
JOHOR BARU: A businessman who thought that he could win big money through online gambling lost more than RM700,000 within two weeks. The betting syndicate is now using Ah Long to get its money back.
The victim, who claims to be a Datuk, alleged that he was introduced to online gambling through his friend, Ah Chua, who showed him how easy it is to gamble on the net in September last year.
The businessman, who wanted to be known as Simon, 36, added that he was attracted to the prospect of making easy money after his friend won RM100,000 within 20 minutes by betting on dog racing.
“My friend persuaded me to gamble through the Internet as I usually gamble at places like Genting,” he told a press conference organised by Johor Baru MCA complaints bureau deputy chairman Michael Tay here.
He also said that he had given RM130,000 to his friend to place bets. “I told him I wanted some of the money back to repay the Ah Long but he give me a RM40,000 cheque which bounced,” he said, adding that his friend has since disappeared.
Simon added that the syndicate had gambling connections in Macau, Australia, England, Singapore and Malaysia with bets placed on horse and dog racing.
“Usually one of the bookies would contact me and if I win, I would get my winnings from them,” he said adding that the most he won was RM30,000.
Simon said that he now owed the syndicate RM300,000 in gambling debts and the loan sharks hired by the syndicate are becoming more aggressive.
Tay reminded people not to gamble through the Internet as it is dangerous and there is no such thing as easy money.
“I also urge the government to pass a law banning Internet gambling sites as people can access them easily,” he said.
